A new finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year Award is quickly emerging.
Chicago Cubs rookie starting pitcher Cade Horton is using an extraordinary second half performance to put himself right in the thick of the conversation.
Horton entered the season as Chicago’s top pitching prospect and spent just a month in Triple-A before being promoted for his major league debut in May.
Horton struggled a bit in the first two months of his career, as he posted a 3.98 ERA in May and a 5.47 ERA in June. He struggled heavily with command, and it was unclear if he was ready for the majors.
Since the All-Star break, though, Horton has been the best pitcher in all of MLB. After six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts against the Angels on Saturday, Horton lowered his second-half ERA to 0.49, the lowest in baseball.
Horton was previously listed as the biggest X-factor in the NL Central and he is now proving why. He’s allowed just two runs across his last seven starts and 37 innings pitched. His season ERA has lowered from 4.45 to 2.88 during the second half and Horton now has the lowest ERA among rookie starting pitchers.
chat, is this good? pic.twitter.com/KeC6rHE4T1
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 24, 2025
According to ESPN Bet, Horton has the third highest odds to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award, trailing Brewers infielder Isaac Collins and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. Just a short month ago, Baldwin looked like the runaway favorite, but now both Collins and Horton have entered the picture.
Horton will have a chance to improve his numbers in his next scheduled start. He is slated to take the mound Friday against MLB‘s worst team, the Colorado Rockies. While it is at Coors Field, it will be an excellent chance for Horton to continue his success against one of the worst lineups in baseball.
If Horton is able to maintain his second-half success and Collins and Baldwin fall into slumps, the Cubs could have their first Rookie of the Year since Kris Bryant won it in 2015.
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